Super Dark (Super Dark Trilogy)

by Tanith Morse

  “So where have you been, darling?” Anne asked cautiously. “You must tell us everything. Those creatures didn’t hurt you, did they?”

  Elliot shook his head. “No, they didn’t.”

  Neil expelled a troubled sigh. “Do the police know you’re okay? We really should call them and let them know you’ve been found.”

  “No police,” Elliot said quickly. “I just want to forget about it.”

  His parents stared at him, slack-jawed.

  “You can’t be serious,” Neil spluttered. “Son, these people snatched you. They stole you from us and they can’t be allowed to get away with it. You must tell us who they are, where have they been holding you. Did they use violence? Don’t you see, Elliot? We must bring these monsters to justice before it’s too late.”

  A shadow flitted across Elliot’s face, and his eyes became like two cold marbles. “I’ll say this once and once only. No police, no media, no investigation. I don’t want to talk about what happened to me. All I want is to look to the future and put the past behind us. Please. I know this is hard for you, but believe me, it’s for the best. I won’t answer any questions.”

  A throbbing silence descended over the room.

  “But darling,” Anne said, “you can’t expect us not to ask questions. Don’t you see that we need to …”

  He cut her dead. “I said I don’t want to talk about it, Mum! Why can’t you just be happy that I’m home, huh? I’ve been to hell and back, and all I’m asking for is a little understanding. Love me, and help me to forget the past. That’s all I want. If you can’t do that, then … well, I can’t stay.”

  “Please don’t say that!” Anne cried. “Don’t ever, ever say that. We’ve only just got you back.”

  Neil’s face grew grim. I could tell he didn’t like this one little bit, but he was holding his tongue for the sake of peace. “Okay son, we’ll respect your wishes for now. Whether it stays that way remains to be seen. But for now, can one of you at least explain how the two of you met? How long has Sam known about this—and more importantly, why did no one tell us?”

  “Yes,” Anne agreed, turning to me. “Could you fill us in?”

  Licking my lips, I glanced nervously at Elliot to gauge his reaction. His eyes were pleading with me not to make this any more complicated than it already was. I thought about everything that had happened, and wondered how much to tell them. Should I mention the whole Lee Weaver charade? The numerous times we’d met up over the past couple of weeks? The fight at the nightclub? It was difficult to determine how much to include and how much to leave out. Whatever answer I gave was sure to lead to more questions, and I needed to nip this in the bud as quickly as possible.

  So I decided to keep it simple. “Basically, I only found out yesterday. I was in the library with some friends when Elliot came up and introduced himself. Obviously I was shocked, and it took me a few hours to recover. Then as soon as we could, we came up to see you. I promise we haven’t been sitting on this longer than a day. We wouldn’t do that to you.”

  A look of relief washed over Elliot’s face, and he gave a small weak smile. I’d saved his bacon and he knew it.

  “Is that the truth?” Neil demanded, eyeing his son suspiciously. “Did Sam really only just find out yesterday?”

  “Yes,” Elliot nodded. “Everything happened just the way she said it did.”

  “Does Lisa know?” Anne asked, looking at me with frightened eyes. “Have you told her yet?”

  “Of course not.” I replied. “My mum doesn’t know anything. Anyway, it’s only right that we told you guys first. You are his parents, after all. Plus, as Elliot said, he doesn’t want to involve too many people.”

  Anne and Neil exchanged glances. Then she walked across to Elliot and placed her hand on his arm. “So what’s the plan, darling? Do you want me to take you up to see your room? I’ve kept it just the way it was the last time you were . . . were here.” She continued rubbing his arm, gazing up at him for reassurance. “Obviously you’ll need a bigger bed, so perhaps you’d be happier in the guest room tonight. But tomorrow we can all go out and choose you some new furniture. Then we can …”

  “Hold on,” Elliot interrupted, “you don’t think I’m moving back in here, do you? I’m sorry, but I’m not.”

  Anne was thunderstruck. “Why not?”

  “I can’t,” he said. “I can’t just move back in here like nothing’s happened. Things have changed, Mum. I’ve got my own apartment now, and that’s where I’m staying.”

  “But darling, this is your home,” she wailed. “This is where you belong. Don’t you understand that we need to be with you? I can’t bear to be away from you again.” Her voice cracked with emotion. It was getting to be too much for her. “Please darling, say you’ll stay.”

  “Anne, get a hold of yourself!” Neil reprimanded sternly. “Elliot’s quite right. Things aren’t what they were. We are going to have to take this one day at a time. He’s not a six-year-old anymore. He’s a fully grown lad, and he needs his own space. Perhaps in time we can …”

  “I don’t care about that,” Anne snapped. “He’s still my baby and this is his home. I want him under my roof. I can’t bear to have him living somewhere else. We’ve got so much time to make up, so many things to talk about. I don’t want to waste even a moment.”

  Elliot put his arms around her and gently caressed her back, speaking to her in a warm, low voice. They stood like that for a moment as he waited for his mother’s sobs to subside. “It’s all right, it’s all right,” he soothed. “I’ll stay the night if you want me to.”

  “Really?” She perked up immediately. “Oh darling, you’ve just made me the happiest woman alive.”

  My eyes flicked to my phone. “Uh, guys, I really should be going. It’s getting sort of late and my mum will be wondering what’s happened to me.”

  “Why don’t you stay the night?” Anne suggested. “There’s plenty of space. We can always make up a sleeping bag for you.”

  “No, it’s best I go. I’ve got school early tomorrow. And besides, you guys have got so much to talk about. I wouldn’t want to intrude.”

  “You’re not intruding,” Elliot said. “Stay the night and we can travel back together tomorrow on the train.”

  “Thanks for the offer, but no. You guys need your privacy.”

  I turned and started walking toward the door, slowing my pace as I felt his eyes on my back. When I entered the hall, I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder.

  “Can’t you stay?” he whispered, putting his face close to my ear. “I’m not sure I can do this alone.”

  “You’ve got to,” I whispered back. “They’re your parents, Elliot. You need time alone together as a family. I can’t always be there to hold your hand. You’ve got to do this on your own.”

  He moved in closer. An electric current coursed through me. I had an overpowering craving to kiss him, but now was not the time to have those kinds of feelings—certainly not with his parents in the next room.

  “When will I see you again?” There was an edge of desperation in his voice. “I really need you right now.”

  I glanced up and met his eyes. They were searching, pleading, begging me to stay. My heart broke for him. I couldn’t begin to imagine what he must have been through, what horrors he must have endured living with the Gruesome Twosome. It must have been so horrible, so painful that he didn’t want to speak about it. I wished there was a way I could take away his pain and suffering. I wished I could heal him.

  I wanted to stay and support him, I really did. But at the same time, I knew he’d have to face Anne and Neil sometime, and now was as good a time as any.

  I put my hand on his arm. “I really wish I could stay, but I can’t. Don’t you see? This is something you’ve got to do on your own.” I paused. “But remember, I’ll always be here, no matter what. You always know where to find me.”

  Elliot grasped my hand tightly and held it to his cheek, closing his eye
s as he ran my fingers over his lips. Warmth stirred inside me, electricity that made me throb with longing. My heart battered against my chest and my knees felt weak.

  “A-hem.” Neil cleared his throat.

  We turned and saw he was standing right behind us. Hastily, we drew apart, our cheeks stained with embarrassment.

  “So I’ll see you Wednesday?” Elliot said hopefully, looking away from me.

  “Wednesday?” I stammered.

  “Yes, Wednesday. I’ll pick you up after school and we can go finish your portrait.”

  “Yeah, okay. That sounds great.”

  “Great.”

  “Right, I guess I’d better be going,” I said, shrugging on my jacket. “Goodbye, Neil. I’ll see you soon.”

  “Goodbye, poppet,” he replied. “Safe journey. And remember to send me a text to let us know you got home okay.”

  “I will.”

  Neil’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. He was clearly onto us. He knew there was plenty we hadn’t told him, and Elliot mentioning the portrait didn’t help. It was only a matter of time before he’d want answers. I didn’t want to be around to hear the questions.

  Quickly, I unlatched the door and stepped into the driveway, where I was instantly hit by a blast of ice cold air. Shivering, I pulled on my hood and made off in the direction of the station, walking briskly up the slippery pavement. I hadn’t gotten very far when I suddenly had the horrible sense that someone was following me. Instinctively, I turned around and surveyed the empty street. There was nothing. No one. The place was as quiet as the grave.

  For a long moment, I stood there listening in the stillness, trying to figure out what had frightened me. It was a weird feeling, difficult to describe; like a dark presence hovering over me.

  A premonition.

  Shaking my head, I continued walking again and didn’t stop until I’d reached Lansbury station.

  THIRTEEN

  Deception

  Somehow, I made it to school the next day. Nursing what felt like the mother of all hangovers, I hauled myself to first period Photography with Mrs. Murphy, arriving ten minutes late and looking like death warmed up.

  “So nice of you to join us, Samantha,” Mrs. Murphy said icily as I shambled to a desk at the back of the class. “A phone call would have been nice.”

  “Sorry, I woke up late.”

  Mrs. Murphy squinted at me through her pointy designer specs. “Well, just as long as you don’t make a habit of it.”

  “Don’t worry, I won’t.”

  Peering across the room, it was clear that I wasn’t the only one who hadn’t made it in. Photography had always been a small group, but today it had whittled down even further to just four pupils.

  Mrs. Murphy dimmed the lights, switched on the projector, and began flicking through slides of Mapplethorpe nudes. I began to relax a little. The darkness helped to soften my throbbing headache. I couldn’t have tolerated any glaring strip lighting after another sleepless night plagued by bad dreams.

  I’d give anything not to be here—but playing truant two days in a row just isn’t an option. I’m lucky enough I got away with it the last time.

  “As you can see,” Mrs. Murphy said, pointing to a photo of a naked man, “Mapplethorpe’s style was very provocative. He was fond of creating striking black and white images that make an impression.”

  She can say that again! Just looking at that toned torso was enough to set my pulse racing, and inevitably thoughts of Elliot crowded into my mind. I tried to force back the memories by grinding my teeth together.

  Switching positions, I clenched my fists under my arms, drifting in and out of a semi-conscious state. I recalled the last time Elliot had held me in his arms, how warm and safe it had felt. I wish I could be with him now.

  “You’re not falling asleep back there, are you?” Mrs. Murphy asked.

  I snapped my head up and widened my eyes to demonstrate how awake I was. “No, of course not.”

  “Good. I was worried we’d lost you there for a minute.”

  Someone giggled.

  Stretching out my legs and flexing my knuckles, I forced myself onto autopilot for the rest of the lesson, trying to cultivate an interest in Mapplethorpe and the late ‘80s New York art scene. But it was no use. My head was just too weighed down with problems. Elliot had high-jacked my brain.

  The hour seemed to drag on forever. I was relieved when the lights finally came on.

  “Don’t forget to leave your essays on my desk on your way out,” Mrs. Murphy called as everyone packed up to go.

  With a deep yawn, I gathered all my stuff together and walked toward the door. As I passed, I threw my essay down on her desk; it was something I’d hastily cobbled together the night before and hadn’t even bothered to spell-check, but I was so out of it, I didn’t care.

  “Can you stay behind a minute?” Mrs. Murphy asked. She was rifling through some papers on her desk.

  Reluctantly, I stalled by the door, waiting for the inevitable dressing down for being late.

  She took off her specs, blew into them, and polished up the lenses with her cuff. “Take a seat please. You don’t look very comfortable standing there.”

  I slid a chair across the room and sat down in front of her. “Can we make this quick? I’m gonna be late for my next class.”

  “It will only take a minute. I merely wanted to know if you’re okay, that’s all. You haven’t seemed yourself lately and, well …” She glanced furtively at my bruised cheek. “I wanted to check that everything’s all right with you at home.”

  “My mother’s not beating me up, if that’s what you mean.”

  “Don’t be smart. That’s not what I meant. I just wanted to know how you’re finding the course.” She appeared to weigh her next words carefully. “Obviously, I’m aware of your background and I understand the difficulties you must be facing. For example, I know you’ve missed a lot of school.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Your point being?”

  “I just wanted to let you know that I’m always here if you need me.”

  “Thanks, I’ll bear that in mind.” I stood. “Is it all right if I go now?”

  “Yes,” she said with a sigh. As I headed for the door, she handed me back my essay. “I’m giving you an extension. You’ve got till Friday to get this finished properly.”

  “But I have finished it,” I protested.

  She made a face and I took the hint. She was giving me a lifeline, so I might as well take it. Smiling wanly, I tucked the essay back into my bag.

  “Thanks, Mrs. Murphy,” I said.

  “Don’t mention it. Now you run along. I don’t want you to be late for your next class.”

  I smiled again, and this time it was genuine. Poor Mrs. Murphy. She probably thinks I’ve got a boyfriend knocking me around.

  Sadly the truth was a little more complicated than I could share with her. Still, she was trying to look out for me, which was sweet.

  The rest of the morning dragged on interminably. I found it hard to concentrate on Mr. Treagus’ History class. By the time lunch came around, I was almost ready to sleep.

  A sense of foreboding flooded me as I walked through the shadowy corridor toward the cafeteria. Frasier and Becky would be waiting for answers, and now there was nowhere to hide. It was time to face the music.

  When I reached the cafeteria, the whole place was packed. I quickly surveyed the room, but I couldn’t see them, so I picked up a tray and joined the line for food. My stomach felt like lead and I wasn’t hungry, but I went through the motions anyway.

  I glanced across the wide array of choices, but nothing on the menu was particularly appealing. In the end, I settled for a Diet Coke and a melon slice. After I’d paid, I found a quiet seat at the far end of the room and sat with my back to everyone in the hopes of fending off unwelcome attention. I’d only taken a couple of bites of my melon when a voice stopped me in my tracks.

  “Hello, stranger.”

&n
bsp; I turned and saw Frasier standing behind me. He was wearing a green cravat with a tweed jacket and black army boots. “Scoot over,” he said, pushing his tray on the table and pulling up a chair next to me. “God, what happened to you?” He stopped grinning when he saw my bruise.

  “Don’t ask,” I sighed. “I’ve already had the third degree from Murphy.”

  “Did that man in the club do that to you?” he asked worriedly.

  I shook my head. “No. It was just a stupid accident. I tripped and fell.”

  “Maybe you should get Lee to take a look at it. You know what he did for me. Maybe he can work his magic for you, too.”

  “Oh no, don’t start all that again.”

  Frasier laughed. “Yeah, yeah, I know. You don’t believe in all that healer mumbo jumbo. But one day, I’ll make you a believer, I promise.” He unscrewed a bottle of water and drank from it deeply. Then, wiping his mouth on his sleeve, he scrutinized me from a side angle. “So what happened on Saturday after you left? You said you were going to call me, but you never did.”

  “Sorry, but I haven’t been with it lately. I was meaning to call, but just didn’t get around to it.”

  “So …” he drawled, popping a rye cracker into his mouth, “are you going to tell me what happened, or what? And don’t give me any bull about how you went straight home, ‘cuz you weren’t there when I called on Sunday.”

  “Okay, okay, I stayed at Lee’s,” I admitted. Frasier smiled triumphantly. “But nothing happened,” I added quickly. “He slept on the couch. In the morning, he drove me home. That was all, I swear.”

  “Uh-oh. Becky wouldn’t like that one little bit.”

  “You’re not going to tell her, are you?”

  “Do you think I have a death wish? Of course not. She’ll go mental. But on a different note, what is going on with you two, anyway? What is it you and Lee have between you? I sense a connection, but I’m not sure what it is.”